After winning the 2024 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Max Verstappen jubilantly throws punches into the air to celebrate his victory.
McLaren chief executive Zak Brown has claimed “six or seven” drivers on the F1 2024 grid could win the World Championship in Max Verstappen’s Red Bull.
Verstappen has emerged as the dominant force of modern Formula 1, with the reigning three-time World Champion winning 49 of the last 73 races stretching back to the start of his maiden title-winning season in F1 2021.
Zak Brown claims car central to Max Verstappen’s F1 success
Additional reporting by Thomas Maher
The Dutchman collected his fifth victory from the first seven races of the F1 2024 season at last weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, pipping McLaren star Lando Norris to the chequered flag by 0.725 seconds.
Over the past year, Norris and Oscar Piastri have formed a highly successful partnership, making McLaren’s driver line-up the strongest on the current grid.
After Red Bull’s recent announcement that Adrian Newey will be leaving the team in early F1 2025, Brown has been rumored to be interested in acquiring his services. Newey, who has played a crucial part in the success of both Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel, seems to be on Brown’s radar for a potential move.
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When asked about the importance of a star designer versus a star driver for a team’s success, Brown stated that having both is preferable. He further asserted that nearly half of the current grid would be able to win the title if they had Verstappen’s car.
During his interview on F1’s Beyond The Grid podcast, he expressed that having both aspects is ultimately necessary.
In order to secure victory, having a star driver is crucial. However, it is important to note that success ultimately begins with a well-equipped car. Hence, both elements are necessary for attaining triumph.
I am frequently asked: “Is it the car or the driver?”
“It encompasses both aspects, but in my view, I believe there are about six or seven drivers on the grid who possess the potential to become World Champions in the Red Bull.”
Max is undeniably exceptional – one of the greatest to ever grace the sport. However, I firmly believe that if he were to drive any car other than the Red Bull, he would not secure the World Championship title today.
Sergio Perez has proven himself to be a skillful racing driver, capable of keeping up with Max on certain occasions. However, when comparing their performances, the disparity becomes apparent.
Therefore, I believe that having both aspects is necessary. As Formula 1 progresses, with Max performing exceptionally well, it is crucial to observe the fluctuations occurring from P2 to P5. One day we may be in P2, while the next day we could drop to P5, showcasing the constant movement within the rankings.
The proximity of the cars determines when the driver will truly showcase their skills.
“At the end of the day, you require both.”
Norris, on the brink of securing his second grand prix victory at Imola, only two weeks after his triumphant win in Miami, emphasized the pivotal role drivers play in the intense competition amongst Red Bull, McLaren, and Ferrari at the forefront of the race.
After the Emilia Romagna GP, he informed the media, including Thomas Maher from PlanetF1.com, that “honestly, it relies on your driving.”
In my opinion, we are all on the verge of qualifying and are very close.
“If Max hadn’t received the slipstream from Nico Hulkenberg, we might have been positioned slightly ahead of [Red Bull] on Saturday.”
“If Oscar hadn’t received a penalty for impeding Kevin Magnussen in Q1, we could have secured the first two positions on the grid. Therefore, it’s quite likely that we had the most competitive car during qualifying.”
I believe that when it comes to racing, it is primarily about the skill of the driver rather than the capabilities of the car. If you push too hard, you may lose control, but if you go too slow, you will simply fall behind.
“It ultimately boils down to the driver’s judgement and ability to drive within the appropriate limit. It’s not as simple as labeling one car as faster and another as slower.”
In my opinion, the margin is very narrow, and when there is only a one-tenth difference in qualifying, it’s not fair to claim that one person was significantly better than the other.
I hope it carries on in the same way because it’s thrilling, challenging, and keeps you pumped up every weekend.
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